Fauna Spotters logo

Asian Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)

The Asian emerald dove is a small, ground-foraging pigeon of tropical forests and dense wet woodland. In Australia, the EPBC Act listing applies to the Christmas Island subspecies, which is restricted to Christmas Island and may be encountered in rainforest, regrowth, settled areas, tracks and clearings during development works.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Breeding season

The Christmas Island subspecies is sedentary and can be present throughout the year. Breeding is recorded from October to February, with no documented migration period.

The species may be encountered in any month. The seasonal pattern is based on the Christmas Island subspecies.

  • Breeding: Breeding occurs from October to February. The supplied documents do not identify peak laying months.
  • Young: Young may be present during and shortly after the October to February breeding period. The duration of nestling and dependent stages is not specified.
  • Resident movement: The Christmas Island subspecies is considered sedentary, with a small home range and no reported seasonal change in detectability.
  • Highest clearing risk: October to February is the period when clearing and disturbance are most likely to affect nests, eggs and dependent young. Low nests may be vulnerable to direct disturbance and yellow crazy ants.

Identification

This is a stocky, short-tailed pigeon with iridescent green wings and a mostly purplish-brown or red-brown body. It is often detected when flushed from dense understorey or when quietly feeding on the forest floor.

Adults are about 23 to 27 cm long. The back and wings are bright or iridescent emerald green, while the head and underparts are dark vinous pink, purplish-brown or red-brown. The eyes are dark brown, the bill is orange to bright red with a darker base, and the legs and feet are red, purple-red or rufous.

The Christmas Island subspecies has a wingspan of about 43 to 46 cm and weighs about 80 to 135 g. Its flight feathers and tail are dark, and pale shoulder markings are visible in flight.

Adult length: 23 to 27 cm

Christmas Island wingspan: 43 to 46 cm

Christmas Island mass: 80 to 135 g

Identification: Sex and age differences

Males have a grey crown, white forehead, white stripes above the eyes, a narrow white line across each shoulder, and a dark grey lower back, rump and tail. Females are generally duller, with more brown in the plumage and no strong pale shoulder patch.

Juveniles have brown scalloping on the body and wings. The black and chestnut barring of juvenile Christmas Island birds is described as distinctive.

Identification: Field signs and similar species

The call is a low, soft moan or coo, sometimes described as about six to seven coos that start quietly and rise. It may be missed in the loud morning chorus of other Christmas Island birds.

The species is secretive and not very confiding. It may forage quietly on the ground in dense undergrowth and remain unnoticed until flushed. When disturbed, it may walk away or fly low between dense vegetation.

The nest is a low, flimsy stick structure. The broader species account describes nests in trees up to 5 m above the ground and two cream-coloured eggs. On Christmas Island, only the subspecies C. i. natalis occurs, although it resembles other emerald dove subspecies.

  • Do not rely on tracks or scats for identification, as the supplied sources do not describe diagnostic signs for these species.
  • On Christmas Island, distinguish the bird from other pigeons by its green wings, short tail, pinkish or brown body, red bill and quiet ground-foraging behaviour.
  • C. i. natalis is the only emerald dove subspecies occurring on Christmas Island; similar subspecies are not expected there.

Distribution: Australian range

In Australia, the EPBC-listed population is restricted to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. No mainland Australian state range or mainland bioregion is identified in the supplied sources.

Chalcophaps indica natalis is endemic to Christmas Island. It is widespread there and has been recorded in most forested habitats, as well as disturbed vegetation, settled areas, lawns, gardens, houses and forest tracks.

The species occurs within the Territory of Christmas Island Natural Resource Management Region. The supplied documents do not provide a mainland state distribution or a named mainland Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia bioregion.

  • For Australian project work, treat Christmas Island as the relevant range for the EPBC-listed subspecies.
  • Do not apply the Christmas Island subspecies account to mainland emerald doves without checking the relevant local taxon and listing.

Distribution: Strongholds and subpopulations

The subspecies forms a single population restricted to Christmas Island. It is most frequently associated with forest, particularly rainforest on and around the central plateau and its terraces.

There are no recognised Australian mainland subpopulations in the supplied documents. The Christmas Island population is considered necessary to the long-term survival of the subspecies.

Distribution: Population information

Population estimates are uncertain. Earlier estimates included about 2,000 breeding birds, 900 to 3,500 individuals and about 1,000 pairs, but some survey-based estimates were considered unreliable. The species was detected at 21 per cent of 932 waypoints in the 2011 Island-Wide Survey, excluding repeat visits.

The species was described as common and widespread in more recent Christmas Island material, with some indication of recovery. Its restricted range and continuing threats remain the basis for its Endangered listing.

Number of populations: One population, restricted to Christmas Island

Estimated breeding birds: About 2,000 in the 2005 listing advice

Other estimate: 900 to 3,500 individuals in a 2002 survey, considered unreliable

2011 detection rate: Detected at 21 per cent of 932 survey waypoints, excluding repeat visits

Extent of occurrence: Approximately 100 km² in the 2005 listing advice; 137 km² in the 2014 conservation advice

Habitat: Forest habitat

The Christmas Island emerald dove uses a wide range of forest and modified habitats, but is most common in closed or semi-deciduous rainforest. It is a habitat generalist on the island, so suitable habitat cannot be confined to a single mapped vegetation class.

The species is most common in tall closed evergreen rainforest and open semi-deciduous rainforest, especially on the terraces surrounding the central plateau.

It also occurs in deciduous scrub, secondary regrowth, weed thickets and vegetation dominated by Muntingia calabura. The supplied sources do not give an elevation limit or a quantified climate limit.

  • Retain connected forest and rainforest edges where possible.
  • Treat dense understorey, forest tracks, clearings and nearby regrowth as potential habitat rather than assuming that only intact primary rainforest is used.
  • Check both closed forest and disturbed vegetation during pre-clearance surveys.

Habitat: Modified and settled habitat

The dove is regularly observed in settled areas, including lawns, gardens and around houses. It also uses forest tracks and other clearings, particularly where fallen fruit is available near forest cover.

Previous clearing for mining and settlement has reduced and fragmented native forest on Christmas Island. The conservation documents report that about 25 per cent of the island's original landscape and vegetation had been cleared for mining and settlement.

Historical clearing: Approximately 25 per cent of the island's original vegetation and landscape had been cleared for mining and settlement

  • Inspect forest edges, gardens, lawns, regrowth and track margins before clearing or construction.
  • Avoid assuming that a cleared or previously disturbed site has no conservation value for this species.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding sites

Emerald doves are primarily terrestrial foragers. They usually search for fallen fruit and seeds on the ground beneath trees, often close to forest edges, tracks, creeks or clearings.

The diet consists mostly of fruit and seeds from a wide variety of plants. The Christmas Island conservation advice specifically identifies ground fruit as an important food resource.

The bird commonly forages beneath trees near the edge of forest, along creeks and tracks, or in clearings. It may also feed on lawns and in settled areas.

  • Inspect the ground layer beneath fruiting trees, along forest edges and beside tracks during surveys.
  • Retain mature fruiting vegetation and ground access beneath tree canopies where practicable.
  • Manage food and ground disturbance in areas affected by yellow crazy ant supercolonies, because ants can compete for food and attack birds on the ground.

Foraging habitat: Foraging behaviour

Birds are usually seen singly, in pairs or in small groups. They spend little time in trees except when roosting and may walk away rather than fly when disturbed.

The Christmas Island subspecies is considered sedentary and has a small home range. The supplied sources do not provide a numerical foraging radius or home-range area.

  • Search quietly during the early morning, when calls and ground-foraging activity are most likely to be detected.
  • Use slow walking searches and look beneath vegetation, because a bird may remain still or move away on foot before flushing.
  • Record nearby forest cover, fruiting plants, tracks, creeks, clearings and ant activity when documenting a sighting.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

The species breeds in vegetation close to forest and can use modified habitats, but low nests and ground-based feeding areas may be exposed to invasive ants, predators and disturbance.

The Christmas Island subspecies breeds between October and February. The broader species account describes a scant or flimsy stick nest in a tree up to 5 m above the ground and two cream-coloured eggs.

The supplied documents do not specify incubation length, fledging period, age at maturity, lifespan or the duration of parental dependence. They also do not provide a confirmed numerical nest height specifically for Christmas Island.

Breeding season: October to February

Clutch size: Two cream-coloured eggs in the broader species account

Nest: Low, flimsy stick nest; nests are described in trees up to 5 m above the ground

Incubation: Not specified in the supplied documents

Age at maturity: Not specified in the supplied documents

Lifespan: Not specified in the supplied documents

Breeding habitat: Breeding habitat features

Breeding habitat includes forest vegetation, secondary regrowth and other habitats used by the species. The low nest structure means that disturbance in the lower vegetation can affect nesting birds even where canopy trees are retained.

Yellow crazy ant supercolonies can reduce breeding suitability. Nesting attempts have been observed in ant-invaded areas, but many have failed, and low nests may be exposed to ant interference.

  • During October to February, inspect low vegetation and small trees within proposed clearing areas for flimsy stick nests.
  • Keep clearing machinery, personnel and stockpiles away from active nests and retain surrounding cover until young have left, following project approval conditions and fauna handling procedures.
  • Check for yellow crazy ants around proposed work areas and report or manage infestations through the relevant Christmas Island biosecurity and pest-control program.

Sheltering habitat: Cover and roosting sites

The species does not use dens, burrows or tree hollows according to the supplied documents. It shelters and roosts in vegetation and can remain concealed in dense understorey.

Emerald doves spend little time in trees except when roosting, but they use dense wet woodland, rainforest, scrub, regrowth and vegetation around tracks and clearings.

Dense undergrowth can conceal a foraging bird. The bird may flush only after a close approach and may move away on foot before flying.

  • Inspect dense ground and lower-storey vegetation before clearing, slashing or earthworks.
  • Retain connected understorey and low vegetation around forest edges where practicable.
  • Do not rely on canopy-only inspections, as birds may be on the ground or in low vegetation.

Sheltering habitat: Known shelter structures

The supplied sources do not identify use of hollows, burrows, caves, nest boxes or specific roost trees. Nesting occurs in low, flimsy stick nests rather than enclosed structures.

No nest, roost or shelter dimensions other than the broader species account's nest height of up to 5 m are provided.

Nest height reported for the species: Up to 5 m above ground

Other shelter dimensions: Not specified in the supplied documents

  • Record any active nest, roosting group or repeated shelter location found during pre-clearance checks.
  • Use quiet searches and early morning observations because concealed birds can be missed in dense vegetation.

Threats: Invasive yellow crazy ants

The main risks on Christmas Island are invasive yellow crazy ants, habitat loss and modification, introduced predators, introduced diseases and vehicle strike. Clearing and construction can add direct loss of forest, disturbance of low nests and fragmentation of feeding areas.

Yellow crazy ants are the main identified current threat. Before abatement programs, supercolonies occupied 24.4 per cent of Christmas Island rainforest, and dove sightings were reduced by 80 to 90 per cent in invaded areas compared with uninvaded forest.

Ants can compete for fallen fruit, attack birds on the ground, interfere with low nests and alter forest structure indirectly by eliminating red land crabs. The longer-term effects of these ecological changes remain uncertain.

Rainforest affected by supercolonies before abatement: 24.4 per cent

Reduction in dove sightings in invaded forest: 80 to 90 per cent compared with uninvaded forest

  • Check proposed work areas for yellow crazy ant activity before ground disturbance.
  • Prevent the movement of soil, vegetation, machinery and materials that could spread invasive ants.
  • Follow approved island pest-control, hygiene and biosecurity procedures.

Threats: Clearing, fragmentation and construction

Previous clearing for settlement and mining has reduced the area of occupancy and fragmented native forest. New clearing can remove feeding areas, low nesting vegetation, forest edges and movement routes between forest patches.

The species remains adaptable and uses disturbed vegetation, but this does not remove the need to assess impacts under the EPBC Act.

Historical vegetation clearing on Christmas Island: Approximately 25 per cent of the original landscape and vegetation

  • Survey all forest, regrowth, scrub, gardens, lawns, tracks and clearings within the impact area.
  • Avoid clearing during the October to February breeding season where practicable.
  • Retain links between forest patches and avoid unnecessary widening of tracks through forest.
  • Assess proposals under the relevant EPBC Act requirements before works begin.

Threats: Predators, disease and vehicle strike

Cats may prey on adults, while black rats may take eggs and young. The Christmas Island documents also identify the introduced wolf snake as a potential predator if ecological change allows it to enter rainforest areas more readily.

Introduced avian diseases and new invasive species are recognised threats. Birds forage beside roads and are sometimes killed by vehicle collisions, particularly in high-use road areas away from settlement.

  • Control or exclude introduced predators in accordance with approved island programs.
  • Maintain effective quarantine and inspect incoming equipment, materials and animals for pests and disease risks.
  • Use lower vehicle speeds, driver education and road management measures where repeated strikes or frequent dove activity are recorded.
  • Record all vehicle deaths and provide records to the relevant conservation authority.

Threats: Fire and hydrology

The supplied documents do not identify fire or hydrology change as specific primary threats to the Christmas Island emerald dove. Works that alter forest drainage, creeks, seepages or wet ground can nevertheless change vegetation and the availability of ground fruiting resources.

Any fire, drainage or water-management risk should be assessed through the site's environmental approvals and habitat assessment rather than assumed to be insignificant.

  • Avoid unnecessary changes to drainage and creek-side vegetation in occupied forest.
  • Prevent escaped fire and manage ignition sources near rainforest, regrowth and dense understorey.
  • Document any observed change in ground cover, fruiting vegetation or forest condition after works.

Survey methodology: 1. Early morning point surveys

The EPBC listed entity is the Christmas Island emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica natalis. It is endemic to Christmas Island, where it occurs mainly in forest but can use regrowth, scrub, settled areas and tracks.

Survey forested habitat during the early morning, when the dove is most likely to call and be active.

Use 10 minute point surveys in forested habitat, with points 500 m apart.

Listen for the low, soft call and scan the ground and dense understorey for quiet foraging birds.

Record the survey date, start and finish times, weather, habitat, point location and all detections.

Recommended timing: Early morning

Point duration: 10 minutes

Spacing: 500 m between points

Survey effort guide: 5 hours over 5 days

Survey methodology: 2. Quiet searches and flush checks

After a point survey, search suitable habitat quietly and check dense undergrowth and the ground beneath trees.

Walk forest edges, tracks, clearings and areas of secondary regrowth because the dove forages on the ground and can occur in disturbed and settled vegetation.

If a bird is present but remains concealed, make limited movements through the plot to flush it, then stop and allow the bird to settle.

Record flushed birds separately from birds detected by call or direct observation.

Survey methodology: 3. Timing, habitat and detection limits

Give preference to surveys between October and February if the project schedule allows, which is the documented breeding season.

Survey tall closed evergreen rainforest and open semi-deciduous rainforest first, particularly on terraces around the central plateau, then inspect scrub, weed thickets, secondary regrowth, lawns, gardens and forest tracks.

Do not treat a non-detection as proof of absence in dense undergrowth, because birds can forage quietly on the ground and the call is soft and easily missed.

Avoid relying on playback as the primary method for this species, because the species-specific guideline recommends point surveys and flushing rather than a playback effort guide.

Breeding season: October to February

Preferred habitat: Evergreen forest, with use of other forest, regrowth, scrub, settled areas and tracks

Detection issue: Secretive, quiet on the ground and easily missed in dense undergrowth

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • For presence or absence work, use the species-specific guide of 10 minute point surveys at 500 m spacing, totalling 5 hours over 5 days, and add quiet plot searches and limited flushing where dense vegetation may conceal birds.
  • Survey all habitat that may be disturbed, including retained forest edges, regrowth, scrub, tracks and settled vegetation adjoining the work area.
  • Keep locations confidential where disclosure could increase disturbance from repeated call playback or other visits.
  • Submit verified records, including non-detections where required by the project method, to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and the relevant Christmas Island or Commonwealth land manager.
  • Report the taxon as Chalcophaps indica natalis, Christmas Island emerald dove, rather than as the widespread Asian emerald dove species generally.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Plan the project around the listed Christmas Island subspecies, not the widespread mainland and northern Australian species. The subspecies has one population and uses a wide range of forest and disturbed habitats, so clearing edges and regrowth should also be assessed.

  • Retain tall closed evergreen rainforest and open semi-deciduous rainforest, especially forest on terraces around the central plateau.
  • Retain connected forest, regrowth, scrub and forest edges so birds can continue to move between feeding and nesting areas.
  • Avoid clearing areas where doves are regularly detected, even if those areas are secondary regrowth, weed thickets, lawns, gardens or tracks.
  • Protect ground-foraging areas beneath trees and along forest edges, tracks, creeks and clearings from unnecessary disturbance.
  • Do not assume that a specific critical habitat polygon can be identified, because the conservation advice describes the subspecies as a habitat generalist.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Check approvals and plan the works

EPBC status: Endangered

Breeding season: October to February

Population structure: One population restricted to Christmas Island

  • Check whether the action may have a significant impact on the EPBC Act listed Christmas Island emerald dove and obtain project-specific Commonwealth environmental advice before works begin.
  • Check all applicable Christmas Island, Commonwealth and, where relevant, state or territory approvals, wildlife permits and fauna handling requirements.
  • Schedule clearing outside October to February where practicable, and avoid clearing occupied low nests during the breeding season.
  • Stage clearing so that retained forest and nearby escape habitat remain available while each work area is opened.
  • Prepare a fauna management plan that identifies survey methods, clearing limits, spotter catcher responsibilities, stop-work triggers, relocation areas, injured fauna procedures and reporting requirements.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Prepare and mark the site

  • Complete the species-specific pre-clearance survey before vegetation is disturbed, including checks of dense understorey, forest edges, tracks, clearings and regrowth.
  • Mark approved clearing limits and retained habitat on plans and on the ground before machinery enters the site.
  • Mark low vegetation, dense understorey and other areas where a bird may shelter or nest so the fauna spotter catcher can inspect them before removal.
  • Install exclusion fencing where it can keep machinery and people out of retained forest and other fauna refuge areas, and inspect the fencing during the works.
  • Brief all operators on the species identification, its quiet ground-foraging behaviour, the clearing sequence and the stop-work procedure.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Daily controls and machinery interface

The Christmas Island emerald dove is a small, secretive ground-foraging pigeon. Clearing should proceed slowly enough for the fauna spotter catcher to inspect low vegetation and for birds to move into retained habitat.

  • Undertake a daily pre-start inspection of the active work area and adjoining retained habitat for birds, low stick nests and fresh fauna activity.
  • Use a fauna spotter catcher who is authorised under the applicable approval or permit, and maintain clear communication with the machine operator.
  • Clear vegetation progressively from the open edge towards retained habitat where site conditions allow, giving birds an opportunity to move away from machinery.
  • Keep machinery outside marked retained habitat, exclusion zones and approved clearing limits.
  • Use low speed and short work stages around dense understorey, forest edges, tracks and other areas where a bird may remain concealed.
  • Stop machinery immediately when the spotter catcher signals a fauna risk, enters the exclusion zone or cannot safely inspect the next section.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Handling habitat and fauna

  • Inspect low vegetation and dense understorey before removal because the species builds flimsy stick nests low in vegetation.
  • Do not remove or disturb an occupied nest unless the approved fauna management procedure allows it and the authorised fauna handler has assessed the action.
  • Treat logs, rocks, ground cover, burrows and wet areas as general fauna refuge features during clearing, even though no species-specific dependence on these features is documented for this dove.
  • Move any approved salvage material only under the fauna management plan and place it in nearby retained habitat where it will not be cleared again.
  • Do not use hollow-bearing tree procedures as a substitute for a low-vegetation and ground-search procedure, because the available species information does not identify hollow trees as a required resource for this dove.

During habitat disturbance: 3. If a dove is found

  • Stop work in the immediate area and allow the spotter catcher to assess whether the bird can leave unaided.
  • Do not chase, catch or relocate a healthy bird unless this is necessary under the approved fauna management plan and is undertaken by an appropriately authorised person.
  • If relocation is required, place the bird in nearby retained forest or other suitable habitat connected to the project refuge area, subject to the approval and advice of the authorised fauna handler.
  • Keep handling time short, minimise noise and visual stress, and use a suitable ventilated container only where capture is authorised and necessary.
  • Take an injured bird to an appropriate veterinarian or licensed wildlife carer as soon as practicable, in accordance with the permit and fauna management plan.
  • Stop work and obtain advice from the project ecologist or relevant authority if a nest, dependent young, injured bird, repeated bird presence or an unexpected concentration of birds is found.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Records and stop-work controls

  • Record every sighting, nest, capture, relocation, injury, death and vehicle strike with date, time, location, habitat, action taken and outcome.
  • Record the machinery activity and clearing stage associated with each fauna interaction.
  • Maintain a daily register of cleared area, retained area, spotter catcher name, weather, inspections and incidents.
  • Report any death, injury, nest disturbance or unauthorised clearing in accordance with the approval, fauna management plan and relevant authority requirements.
  • Keep work stopped until the spotter catcher and project ecologist confirm that the risk has been controlled and the area can be inspected safely.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Complete post-clearance checks

Post-clearing checks should confirm that no birds, nests or injured fauna remain in the work area and that retained habitat is still protected. Monitoring should be linked to the project approval and the species monitoring already used on Christmas Island.

  • Inspect the cleared area and its edges for injured, dead or displaced birds, low nests and signs of vehicle strike before the area is released for construction.
  • Inspect retained forest, regrowth and refuge areas for birds that may have moved from the cleared area.
  • Remove or repair damaged exclusion fencing and keep retained habitat protected from machinery, storage, traffic and uncontrolled access.
  • Confirm that no additional vegetation was cleared beyond the approved footprint.
  • Document the final cleared footprint, retained habitat, fauna incidents and all corrective actions.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Monitor retained habitat and project effects

  • Repeat early morning point surveys in retained habitat if required by the approval or fauna management plan, using 10 minute points 500 m apart and recording effort consistently.
  • Monitor vehicle deaths on roads through or beside forest, particularly where birds forage near roadways.
  • Inspect retained habitat for changes associated with crazy ants, cats, rats, weeds and altered forest structure.
  • Compare post-work records with pre-work detections, while recognising that the species can be missed because it is quiet and secretive.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Report and manage residual impacts

  • Provide the approval authority and land manager with the survey results, clearing footprint, fauna records, incidents, relocation outcomes and monitoring results.
  • Submit verified species records to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and the relevant Christmas Island or Commonwealth database or land manager.
  • Apply any approved offset, habitat protection or additional threat-abatement measure required for residual impacts.
  • Review the fauna management plan if monitoring identifies vehicle mortality, repeated displacement, nest failure or increased use of retained habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore forest structure and food areas

Rehabilitation should restore connected forest and ground-foraging habitat around the work area. The species uses rainforest, semi-deciduous forest, scrub and secondary regrowth, but the available documents do not prescribe a planting mix or a fixed rehabilitation period.

  • Use locally appropriate native Christmas Island rainforest species and natural regeneration to restore a layered forest structure around cleared areas.
  • Prioritise reconnection of retained forest, regrowth, forest edges, tracks and clearings so birds can move through the site and forage on the ground beneath trees.
  • Use existing suitable secondary regrowth as part of the rehabilitation design rather than clearing it solely to replant the area.
  • Do not rely on nest boxes as the primary intervention, because the species is documented as building low, flimsy stick nests and no hollow dependence is identified.
  • Retain suitable ground cover and leaf litter where it will not create a safety or fire hazard, because the dove commonly searches for fallen fruit on the ground.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Control threats during rehabilitation

  • Control yellow crazy ants in and around rehabilitation areas in accordance with the island threat-abatement programme.
  • Control introduced cats and rats where required by the approved management programme.
  • Control weeds and prevent new invasive species from establishing in rehabilitated forest.
  • Maintain effective quarantine and biosecurity controls for invasive species and avian diseases.
  • Use the site fire management system to prevent escaped fire from damaging retained or rehabilitated forest, noting that the available species documents do not prescribe a species-specific fire regime.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Monitor rehabilitation success

  • Inspect planted and naturally regenerating areas for survival, recruitment, weed invasion, ant activity and connection with retained forest.
  • Undertake repeat early morning point surveys in suitable rehabilitated and retained habitat where monitoring is required, using consistent 10 minute points and 500 m spacing.
  • Use increasing or maintained detection rates, continued use of rehabilitated habitat and absence of vehicle deaths or fauna incidents as project indicators, interpreted with the species' low detectability in mind.
  • Record rehabilitation methods, plant survival, habitat condition, fauna detections and corrective actions in annual or approval-specified reports.
  • Adapt weed, ant, predator, access and fire controls if monitoring shows that rehabilitation is not providing usable forest or ground-foraging habitat.

Sources